Container



30, 1943. w. A. REHFIELD ETAL 1 2,315,094

CONTAINER Filed Jan. 29, 1940 3 Sheets$heet 1 A'iTOTRW 1943- w. A. REHFIELD ETAL 2,315,994

CONTAINER Filed Jan. 29, 19 40 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

1943 w. A. REHF'IELD ETAL 2,315,094

CONTAINER I 5 I I I I I I I l I I I I I I I I I I I I I i I i l I I I I 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 29, 1940 Patented Mar. 30, 1943 CONTAINER Wilson A. Behfield, Chicago, and Milton 1:.

Naylor, Rockford, 111., asslznors to The Eddy Paper Gorporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application January 29, 1940, Serial No. 316,064

(ill. 229-14) d Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in containers, and more particularly to containers adapted for the transportation and handling of bottled or canned beer.

Heretoiore it has been common practice to construct beer'containers with oval openings in the end walls to provide hand holds, and in handling the loaded cases it has been common to pick them up with one hand grasped through one of said hand openings. In containers constructed of fibre board, and more particularly of solid fibre board, this practice tends to cause the end walls to be pulled outwardly with resulting splitting oi the fibre board at the corners.

It is, therefore, one of the objects of the present invention to obviate the above dificulty by providing in a container of fibre board or the like, inexpensive means whereby the end walls are locked against outward pull when the container is closed.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a construction, as above described, wherein complementary cover portions are foldable over flaps connected to the upper edges of the end walls, said cover portions and flaps having cooperating tongues and slots arranged 'to lock the end walls against outward displacement of the type which would produce splitting of the fibre board.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a container of the type described having hand holds in the end walls thereof, auxiliary means insertable adjacent said end walls for reinforcing the latter, and for aiding in reducing strains thereon during handling of the container.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a container of fibre board or the like, wherein aumliary upright reinforcements may be connected by an aumllary bottom member to form a sling for removing the contents from the container, said sling also serving to provide an additional reinforcing thickness at the bottom of the case.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction as above described wherein upright walls of the sling may be provided with flap extensions or with one or more extensions forming a top pad, said extensions being constructed to cooperate in performing the locking function.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container as above described,.wherein the end members oi the sling have hand openings which normally register with the hand openings of the container, and which may also be used independently of the container hand openings to facilitate withdrawal of the sling and contents from the container.

A further object oi the invention is to provide improvements as above described, which are adapted for use in connection with containers of various types, the end wall locking feature being adapted for use in connection with any style of container having top flaps connected to the end walls,and having a cover ioldable over said top flaps.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved container and all or any'of its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims and all equivalents thereof.

In. the accompanying drawings illustrating several embodiments of the preferred form of the invention, in which the same referencenumerals designate the same parts in all of the views Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container with the complementary cover portions in open position;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view throughan open container showing a reinforcing sling partially withdrawn;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the container with the covers closed. the container being equipped with a reinforcing sling;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig.3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the container in closed condition;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrat ing a modification;

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1

, showing the invention applied to a Bliss type Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken on line I i-It of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through a container illustrating a sling constructed to form a top pad; and.

Fig. 16'is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a sling showing a modification of the form illustrated in Fig. 15. v

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the container illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive is formed of solid fibre board, corrugated board, or other suitable material. It comprises a onepiece blank forming side walls 9 and I and end walls II and I2. The side wall I0 is formed with a connecting flange l3 which is stapled or otherwise secured, as at H, to an edge of the end wall l2, as shown in Fig. 2, as is customray in this style of container. The end walls II and i2 have bottom flaps i5 and I6 foldable therefrom inwardly of the container, and the side walls 9 and I9 have bottom flaps l1 and i8 which are foldable over. the flaps l5 and IE to complete the bottom of the container. The flaps l1 and 8 meet one another, as at I9, when in folded condition (see Figs. 1 and 4), and the flaps I5 and I6 may terminate short of meeting, as shown in Fig. 2.

Top flaps 20 and 2| are foldably connected to the upper edges of the end walls H and I2 and are movable to the position shown in Fig. 1 when the container is to be closed. Complementary closure members 22 and 23 are connected to the upper edges of the side walls 9 and Ill, and are foldable toward one another over the flaps 20 and 2| as shown in Fig. 4.

The end walls of the container are provided with oval openings 24 and 25, which openings form hand holds to facilitate lifting the container when loaded. In use of containers of this general type, it 'has been common for delivery men to grasp one of the hand holds, such as the hand hold 24, and to carry the loaded container suspended from one hand. This naturally causes the grasped end wall to be pulled outwardly against the weight of the contents, and has resulted in splitting of the end walls, particularly at the corners. 7

To obviate this difliculty, the present invention provides means whereby there is a sufilciently strong interlock between the closure members 22 and 23' and the flaps 29 and 2| to prevent the end walls from being pulled outwardly and to'prevent splitting. This interlock must have such strength as to withstand the strains .to which it is subjected in use, and a desirable manner of eifecting an interlock for accomplishing this purpose,is to form elongated interior slots 26 in the top flaps 20 and 2|. These slots extend longitudinally of the caseand must have their inner ends 2'! closed to forma stop. The cover members have their free edges provided with tongues 28 which are adapted to enter the slots 26 in the manner shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Two of these tongues 28 fit against one another in each of the slots 26, and the tongues are substantially the same length as the slots so that any outward pull on one of the end walls will be stopped by reason of the slot ends 21 engaging the end edges 29 of the tongues 28 as shown inFig. 3. Inasmuch as thetongues 28 are foldable from the closure members 22 and23, there is a tendency for said tongues to straighten out. Therefore, when the tongues are inserted in the slots they resiliently bind against one another to maintain themselves in position in the slots and to prevent accidentalwithdrawal. There is, therefore, a snug engagement of the two tongues in each slot. .The tongues are'further of substantial length and thickness to withstand the strains accomplish the same purpose may, of course, be employed within the scope of the invention, providing they serve to lock the end walls against outward displacement of the type described.

It is also desirable to provide means within the container for further reinforcing the end walls to cooperate with the novel interlock, in producing the desired strength and rigidity. As shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, a sling 30 may be employed, comprising a. bottom 3| and ends 32. The ends 32 may be of any desired structure, but it is preferred to reinforce the upper portions by folding the material back on itself as at 33 to form an extra thickness at the upper portion of said end walls. The end walls of the sling are also provided with oval hand openings 34 which extend through both thicknesses of material, and which are adapted to register with the hand openings 24 and 25 in the container proper as shown in Fig. 3.

. The sling with the bottom 3| is adapted to support the contents of the container, and may also support cellular partitions 35 or other separating devices. The sling, therefore, permits withdrawal of the entire contents from the container as shown in Fig. 2, and may also be employed to facilitate loading. During such withdrawal the hand holds 34 of the sling are used independently of the hand holds 24 and 25 of the container proper.

In handling the loaded containers equipped with the above described slings, the hands are grasped through three thicknesses of material so that there is substantial strength against tearing. In addition, the bottom 3| of the sling provides an extra reinforcing thickness at the bottom of the container as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 6 and 7, a modification is illustrated wherein auxiliary end members 32' are'employed to reinforce the ends of the container, but wherein said end members are not connected by a bottom member such as the bottom member 3| of Fig. 2. There is,'there1'ore, no sling in the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, and with this form of the invention it is preferable to have the bottom flaps I!" and I. meet so that there are two thicknesses throughout the bottom of the container.

The type of box shown in Figs. l to 7 is merely for purposes of illustration, inasmuch as the features of the invention may be used in con- Junction with various types of boxes. For example, the invention is well adapted for use in connection with the "Bliss type of container illustrated in Fig. 8, wherein the end walls 36 of the container proper are not integral with the side walls but are stitched to flanges 31, 38 and 39 folded from the side and bottom walls. The sling 39 may also be employed in the "Bliss type of container, and is very advantageous in that it provides an extra thickness at the bottom, whereas the type of box illustrated in Fig. 8 normally has only a single thickness at the bottom. It is also obvious that the auxiliary end walls 32' of Fig. 6 may also be used in conjunction with the Bliss' type of box as shown in Fig. 8. The invention is equally applicable to various other well i known types of containers.

It is further to be noted that when the con tainer is closed in the manner shown in Figs. 3 and 6, the end edges 40 of the tongues 28 engage against theinner surfaces of the upper ends of the auxiliary end members 32 or 32' to maintain imposed thereon. Other interlocks adapt to said upper portions of the auxiliary end members ing provided with elongated longitudinal slots 42..

A sling, designated generally by the numeral 43, is removably positionable within the container and said sling has a bottom wall 44, upright walls 45 connected to the sides of the bottom, and may have end walls 46 as illustrated, formed with hand holds 41 which register with the hand holds of the container 40. Flaps 48 are foldable from the upper edges of the upright walls 65 of the sling and said flaps have locking tongues M which are engageable i'n'the slots 42 of the flaps 4|.

In'the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12 the construction is identical to that shown and described in connection with Figs. 9 and 10 except that the side walls of the container have fiaps 56 foldable from their upper edges, which flaps carry locking tongues 5!. All other parts of the construction shown in Figs. 11 and I2 are the same as in Figs. 9 and 10 and are indicated by the same reference numerals primed. It is apparent that with the construction of Figs. 11 and 12 the flaps 50, in connection with the container, fold over the fiaps id of the sling, and the elongated slots 62' are of increased width to accommodate four tongues in the manner shown in Fig. 12. i

In the modification of Figs. 13 and 14 the container 52 is identical to the container of Figs. 9 and 10. The sling, 53, however, has its upright end walls 54 formed with flaps 55 foldable from the upper edges thereof beneath the flaps 66 connected to the end walls of the container proper. Flaps 55 and 56 are formed with registering elongated slots 51 and 58 for receiving the tongues 59 connected to the edges of flaps Gil, foldable from the side wall SI of the sling. The tongues 59 therefore have a locking engagement with the flaps of thesling as well as with the flaps of the container end walls.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. the containerv 62 is constructed in the same manner as the container of Fig. 1. The sling 63 within the container, however, has one of its upright walls formed with a hinged extension 6 which is foldable over the entire top of the container to provide a top padover the contents.

vThe member 65 is provided with slots 65 which register with the slots 56 of the end flaps 61 of the container proper, and thetop closures $8 of the box, which are identical to the closures 22 and 23 of Fig. 1, have locking tongues 69 whic extend through the slots 65 and 86.

Fig. 16 illustrates a sling adapted for the same purpose as the sling of Fig. 15, and this sling 83' has flaps 64' connected to the upper edges of both end walls and foldable inwardly to each other. Each flap is provided with one of the elongated slots 65. This sling 83' is adapted for interchangeable use with the sling 53 of Fig. 15. The slings 63 or 63' may or may not have upright walls connected to the side edges of the bottom thereof- The top pad 64 of Fig. 15 may of course be formed by a separate piece of material having no connection with the sling.

While the invention is particularly suited for use in connection with beer containers, it is obvious that it is also adapted for use in connection with containers for other purposes, wherein similar problems are present, and the particular embodiment of interlock may be varie within the scope oi. the claims.

We claim: 1. In a container of fiberboard or the like having side and end walls, said end walls having hand holes therein, flaps connected to the upper edges of said end walls and foldable toward one another over the top of the container, each of said flaps having a slot therein, each slot having its the inner end edges of the tongues abutting the closed inner ends of said slots to prevent outward movement of the end walls when the container is picked up by grasping the hand hole of one of said end walls.

2. In a container of fiberboard or the like having side and end walls, flaps connected to the upper edges of said end walls and foldable toward one another over the top of the container, each of said fiaps having a slot therein extending from a position close to the line of fold between the flaps and the end wall toward the free edge of the flap and having a closed inner end spaced inward- 1y of the free edge of the flap, fiaps foldable toward one another from the upper edges o the side walls over said end wall flaps, the free edge of each side wall flap having a depending tongue adjacent each end of such length and so positioned as to fit snugly in the end wall fiap slots together with the corresponding tongues of the opposite side wall flap, with the inner end edges of. the tongues abutting the closed inner ends of the slots to prevent outward movement of the end walls when strains are imposed on said'end walls, auxiliary end members having upper end portions which are loose when the container is open positioned adjacent the inner surfaces of the end walls, said tongues having their outer end corners beveled and positioned to Wedgingly engage the loose upper end portions of the auxiliary end members when the container is closed to maintain the latter tightly in position against the end 3. In a container of fiberboard or the like having side and end walls and having a bottom, the end walls being provided with hand holes therein, a sling having a bottom and having spaced upright portions positionable adjacent the end walls removably insertable in said container, said sling bottom being positionable on the container bottom to reinforce the latter, the upper edge of each upright portion having an integral extension bent downwardly and positioned between the upright portion proper and the end wall, and said upright portions of the sling hav hand holes extending through both the upright portions proper and through the downwardly bent extensions which are rgistrable with the hand holes of the container end walls, and partitioning means resting on the bottom of the sling and directly contactable with the upright portions or the sling, said sling being adapted to support the contents of the container, whereby the entire contents andpartitioning means may be simultaneously removed by withdrawal of the sling using the hand holes thereof.

4. In a container of fiberboard or the like havin side and end walls and having a bottom, said end walls having hand holes therein, a sling having a bottom and having spaced upright portions removably insertable in said container, with the sling bottom positionable on the container botwith a closed inner end and with its outer end close to the line of fold between the flap and the end wall, flaps foldable toward one another from the upper edges of the side walls over said end wall flaps, the free edge 01' each side wall flap having a depending tongue adjacent each end of -such length and so positioned as to fit snugly in the en wall flap slots, together with the corresponding tongues of the opposite side wall flap, with the inner end edges of the tongues abutting the closed inner edges of the slots .to prevent outward movement of an end wall when the container is picked up by grasping the hand hole of said end wall, said side wall flap tongues having their outer ends positioned to maintain the loose upper ends of the sling upright portions in position against the end walls, and said sling and partitioning means being withdrawable simultaneously by use of the sling hand holes when the container is opened.

WILSON A. REHFIEID. MILTON K. NAYLOR. 

